Cab service Lyft, which hit the milestone of more than 17 million rides this October, is revamping its identity. Lyft is replacing its easily identifiable pink mustache in favor of LED dashboards dubbed Amp.
On Tuesday, Nov. 15, Lyft announced in a blog post that its Glowstache was giving way to Amp.
"For almost two years, the iconic Glowstache has brightened many a day and dashboard. But it's time to unveil Amp, the next (colorful) generation of the Lyft emblem. The first in-car communications device of its kind, Amp makes it even easier for passengers and drivers to find each other, and adds an extra layer of safety," notes the company.
What Is Amp?
Amp is basically a digital sign that can be mounted on a car's dashboard. The company hopes this will be a simpler way for passengers and drivers alike to recognize each other.
It is essentially a glowing display that has multiple LED lights. It has a 24-LED screen that sports the Lyft logo on the side facing the windshield and a second 120-LED screen that has Lyft written on it.
The rear of the device will be able to show off personalized messages such as a welcome message to the rider: "Hello Angelina."
The oblong-looking sign will feature a gamut of colors that will enable a passenger to locate and identify their Lyft driver better, particularly when at night.
The device is essentially a two-way beacon and will be more effective in locating a Lyft driver/passenger.
How Does Amp Work?
"It basically cues you to the driver, the driver back to you, so everyone's looking for the same color," says Ethan Eyler, Head Lyft's ride experience division.
What Eyler means is that the Amp is programmable to six colors - teal, yellow, purple, silver, orange and green. The light on the LED device will glow in one particular color during a specific pick-up.
The Amp gets illuminated during a pick up like the Glowstache. This alerts the rider that the cab has arrived.
The process basically entails matching a color. Thanks to the Lyft app, a passenger or rider will know what color they need to keep an eye out for. They can then hail the car, which emits the correct matching color.
For example if the Amp of your Lyft driver is glowing purple, the Lyft app on your smartphone will alert you and offer you the option of turning the screen to a same hue. This can be used to hail the driver.
What If Multiple Lyft Cabs Are Nearby?
If several cabs are in your pick-up location, there is no need to worry as each Lyft taxi's Amp is assigned a different hue to avoid confusion.
What Are The Benefits Of Amp?
It will not only enable people to identify their Lyft ride easily, especially in the dark, but also help Lyft stand out from rival Uber.
The signs can be customized as they are programmable and while Lyft does not envision an advertising opportunity as of now, it could use Amp for the purpose in the future.
When Will Amp Be Available To Drivers?
In December, Lyft will give Amp to its drivers who want the device free of charge. The Amp will initially be made available to the company's drivers in Las Vegas, New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles.
